Once back at building bay, ship will be launched at a 20,000-tonne displacement: naval source
The first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) of the Navy was floated out at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), at a low-key event attended by senior shipping and naval officers on Thursday.
Among those present were Union Shipping Secretary K. Mohandas; Rear Admiral K.N. Vaidyanathan, Director General, Naval Design; and Commodore K. Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director of CSL.
The floating ceremony was followed by a meeting to review the progress in the work being done on the aircraft carrier, a 40,000-tonne fleet air defence platform of the Navy, which will be named after the legendary INS Vikrant. The Union Shipping Secretary told The Hindu that the work on the carrier was progressing, albeit not as per schedule, as so many variables were being factored into the extremely complex construction process.
The official added that the commissioning of the carrier, the keel of which was laid in February 2009, was likely to overshoot its original timeline.
According to a senior naval functionary, the carrier was ‘technically floated out' as the shipyard needed the dry-dock for ‘some other commercial work.' “The carrier has taken on about 14,000 tonnes. She would now undergo interior outfitting, including the laying of pipes before being dry-docked again in the latter half of next year for integration of the propulsion gear-box, generators and the like,” he told The Hindu.
As earlier reported by The Hindu, a delay in the delivery of gear boxes and associated systems had considerably slowed down the construction of the prestigious carrier. Naval officers, however, put on a brave face saying that the phase in which teething trouble was encountered was over. “The gear box is ready and undergoing trials, at last. The underwater package is all lined up but the rest of the equipment has to be identified and tested,” said a naval source.
After facing initial hiccups due to paucity of supply of steel, the carrier project got the much-required thrust with the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) and the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) fashioning carrier-grade steel indigenously.
After the steel supply stabilised, problems pertaining to quality gearbox put the brakes on the project. Elecon Engineering Company Limited, a Gujarat-based firm which had earlier manufactured CODOG marine gear boxes for the Navy's Shivalik-class stealth frigates, found itself in the red attempting to make the carrier's huge main gearboxes. “They have been able to overcome the difficulties with support from a German firm,” said a Navy officer.
Keywords: Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, Indian Navy
Well..we have started at least and lets hope it is completed by 2014 atleast..though in terms of tonnage...IAC will be no match to Chinese aircraft carrier...I hope we start the project of developing 2nd aircraft carrier with about 65000 tonnes...
dhanasekaran, the greatest journey begins with the first step. This is a huge step for your country, and I'm sure it's just the first of many to follow.
Great work.... Along with this, India should also fund for the development of fast, efficient and powerful engines to propel warships. As far as the air force is concerned, investment should target in developing jet engines. Engines are the heart and soul of warships and fighter jets which will let India to be self sustained.
Paucity of steel indeed!!! One could have just diverted all the funds the Bellary Reddy Brothers had allegedly clandestinely pumped into the BJP coffers through the alleged illegal mining scandal that is rocking the nation - This flagship carrier could have had all the quality steel that was required.
Cool......needs two more of those ships which can take care of Eastern , Southern and Western command security....INS Vikramaditya will be joining by dec 2012....which i still feel a bogus....and outdated.....instead of that money we could have purchased 50 fighter jets..
GOOD NEWS...
An excellent beginning. Now we wait for the keel laying of second Carrier. Next aim
designing of a NUCLEAR POWERED Carrier!
We Indians will do it sooner or later congratulations to all who deserve
it
more than 60 years after independent we are able to built one aircraft carrier at a time when we need several dozen aircraft carriers. any how it is good news for us.
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